previous bulletins
April 22, 2008
“Music is very nice for a party because it gives you time to eat your fill without having to make conversation.”

-The Cricket in Times Square, George Selden, 1960

With the Spring Fling fast approaching, I thought this an apropos quote for us this week.  Hope to see you there. Isn’t it fun living in Seattle and never really knowing what the weather will be?  I enjoyed a winter wonderland on Friday and Saturday and really wanted to put up a Christmas tree!

For those of you who have read this several times now, I apologize.  For those of you reading this for the first time, I have been educating us all on safety during drop off and pick up. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS A SCHOOL AND THAT TRAFFIC OUTSIDE SHOULD LIMIT THEIR SPEED TO 20 mph WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT.  We have patrols on duty and I am fearful at times for them, as the traffic flow is moving way too quickly. As your child’s first teacher I know you want to model the safest behavior possible.  This also means that when you park across the street you will use one of the crosswalks that the safety patrol is manning and that you DO NOT CROSS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.  I do not enjoy being the heavy patrolling in the mornings and afternoons and having many of you upset with me, and yet, I would much rather have this than calling you about your child being hurt or injured because I didn’t do my job. 

Remember drop off and pick up is not the place to have your child finish their homework or to have that heart to heart you’ve been waiting for.  We need the traffic to keep moving out front.  If you are picking up, please instruct your child to meet you as quickly as possible and then free up the space for others. 

Thank you everyone who is really working to make this a safer area during drop off and pick up.  I contacted the city who will be out to assess our situation and he also informed me that it may be possible to move the metro bus stop, and that in the summer of 2009 we will be getting sidewalks and I have asked for an amber light to alert traffic to the fact that there is a school on this street.

April is soon turning into May and WASL will be over and we will be soon counting the days until the end of school.  Our goal is to keep kids on track and learning until the very end.  With longer days of light ahead, I know it is harder to keep bedtimes and such but please do your best. 

Remember this Friday is “Buzz at the Beach time”.  I know many of you are missing your social time and such so please come on down and enjoy.  I have the hot chocolate and beverages, and I know many of you are excellent bakers so bring a treat in.  I will let teachers know this might be a good time to have you sign up for volunteering or such too and we can have those ready if they need to have you do this.

Thanks for all you do and keep up the good work.  North Beach Staff appreciates you and all the time you dedicate to the school to make it a better place for students.

Peace and honesty,

Joanne Bowers

North Beach Principal